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A Tory MP who once seriously proposed the introduction of a rule that would allow politicians to jump queues ahead of lesser mortals has accused social landlords in Essex of letting non-locals jump housing queues.

Simon Burns, MP for Chelmsford, has claimed that local houses should be for local people, and that the rules currently mean that those with no connection to the town can 'jump the queue' for a social home in front of genuine locals.

Burns said: "I think local housing first of all for local people and if there is spare capacity then certainly one can then encourage people from elsewhere to come and live there because Chelmsford is a very attractive place."

Burns caused controversy in 2007 by proposing that MPs should have "priority access" to services within the parliamentary estate, meaning politicians could avoid queues for shops, restaurants, bars, computers, photocopiers and even toilets by pushing in ahead of visitors or staff.

In 2010, the MP apologised after calling House of Commons speaker John Bercow a "stupid, sanctimonious dwarf”.

Social landlord CHP manages around 4,500 in the Chelmsford area. Director Kay Caldwell said: “CHP works with a number of local authorities throughout Essex and all new homes are let via the local council’s housing register nominees. It is for the respective council to determine its local connection criteria.

“The company works with local councils and agrees lettings plans with them to ensure local communities are given every opportunity to access affordable housing.

“A recent example of letting new build homes to a community is CHP’s Mashbury Road development which gave priority to Great Waltham village residents under the local authority’s lettings plan.”